India’s 2–1 ODI series defeat against New Zealand at home has triggered sharp criticism from former captain Sunil Gavaskar, who pointed to poor fielding as the biggest reason behind the setback. Despite Virat Kohli’s magnificent century in the series-deciding third ODI at Indore, India fell short by 41 runs, handing New Zealand a memorable series win.
Speaking after the match, Gavaskar did not hold back while analysing India’s performance. He stressed that the series was not lost due to batting or bowling failures, but because of a lack of intensity and urgency on the field, especially during the middle overs. According to Gavaskar, Indian fielders allowed New Zealand batters to rotate the strike far too easily, which prevented bowlers from building sustained pressure.
Gavaskar highlighted how “easy singles” became a major issue, allowing New Zealand’s middle-order batters, particularly Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, to settle comfortably without taking risks. In modern limited-overs cricket, he explained, cutting off singles is crucial to creating pressure, forcing batters into mistakes. India’s inability to do so tilted the momentum firmly in New Zealand’s favour.
While criticising the overall fielding effort, Gavaskar was careful not to single out senior players. He praised the athleticism and commitment of experienced campaigners like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, suggesting that the concern lay more with the rest of the unit failing to match that standard.
Virat Kohli’s knock of 124 off 108 balls in the final ODI once again underlined his class and professionalism. However, Gavaskar noted that even such a high-quality innings could not compensate for the lapses in the field. With major tournaments ahead, his comments serve as a clear warning: unless India improve their fielding intensity and fitness levels, strong individual performances alone may not be enough to secure series victories.
